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We’re relaunching our popular FareStart Mirepoix Caramel Collection starting September 9th! We were so inspired by the FareStart culinary job training program that we invited students and chef instructors to our confection kitchen to collaborate with Theo chocolatiers. The result is our Mirepoix Caramel Collection, available through November online, in our retail store and at select grocers.

$1 from each 4-piece box of caramels will benefit FareStart’s job training program for the homeless, helping to provide students with the tools and support needed to transform their lives. With unique savory flavors like Caramelized Onion, Celery Herb, Carrot Coriander, and Bay Fennel, the Mirepoix Collection makes a perfect hostess gift or indulgent treat.

Fueled by Collaboration
The Mirepoix Caramel Box was born out of both Theo and FareStart’s penchant for collaboration. FareStart’s much lauded program of weekly Guest Chef Night dinners invites local chefs to come into the FareStart kitchen and work with a group of the organization’s students to produce a special one-night menu for the FareStart restaurant, with all revenue generated going back into the organization to support FareStart’s culinary job training program. Theo Chocolate’s Chef Session series has involved some of these same chefs—and many more—bringing their expertise to the Theo confection kitchen to create limited edition confections with the Theo team.

The Chef Session
For this project, a group of 15 students and chef instructors from FareStart came to the Theo factory for a day long Chef Session, with a special tour and demonstrations on the finer points of working with chocolate and caramel making. For the session, the joint group focused on savory combinations, and we stocked our kitchen with the freshest organic herbs and vegetables.

Herbs & Vegetables in Caramel
Some of the ingredients we focused on included onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes, ingredients found on just about every restaurant menu, along with plenty of herbs. When we listed the vegetables in our own refrigerators, celery made the brainstorm too. And we couldn’t leave out carrots—which have a special meaning to Farestart students. “Mirepoix is 50% onions and 25% each celery and carrots, diced fine,” explained FareStart student Eddie, adding “And believe me, we go through a lot of carrots.”

The combinations focused on some of the very culinary building blocks taught in FareStart’s culinary job training program, In much the same way, Farestart’s culinary job training program provides the foundation and support for every student who passes through their doors to create a new life for themselves and their families.

Mirepoix
Mirepoix (meer-PWAH) is one of the ultimate kitchen basics and the foundation of so many soups, stews and stocks. It’s the building block for all soups and the best way to hone a student’s knife skills.

“I would have never thought about mirepoix as ingredients inside caramel,” said a FareStart student on the mushroom team.
“You can have your soup and candy, too!”